Q: What cafés and kiosks are in the park?

Bushy Park has one main café - the Pheasantry Café . There are also several smaller refreshment kiosks dotted throughout the park. View the Food and Drink section for full details of each outlet, along with their latest menus. You can find their locations on the park map .

Question 1

What are the park opening hours?

Accepted Answer

The pedestrian gates are open 24 hours a day, except during the six week deer culls from September to mid October and November to mid December. During these months, pedestrian gates open from 8am and close at 10:30pm.

The vehicle gates open from 6:30am and close at dusk each day, which varies throughout the year. This week's opening hours, and any public notices relating to temporary closures (due to park events or maintenance, for example) can be found on the Bushy Park web page.

2025 opening times
You can view the 2025 opening times for Bushy Park here.

Question 2

What are the closest public transport links to the park?

Accepted Answer

Bushy Park is well served by a range of different public transport services:

Train
The closest mainline stations are Hampton Wick and Teddington to the north-east of the park. Both are served by services from South Western Railway. Walking times from each station are just 5 minutes to the closest park gate.

Tube
There is no underground station within easy reach of the park, so we would recommend using the mainline rail services shown above.

Bus
There are plenty of options for getting to the park by bus. Use an online planner from TfL or Google to prepare for your journey.

Cycle
Cycling to Bushy Park has never been easier. There are a number of cycleways passing through and around the park, which you can explore by using the cycle map layer on OpenStreetMap or the cycling route planner from Google.

Question 3

How big is the park?

Accepted Answer

Bushy Park is approximately 445 hectares (1,100 acres) in size - the equivalent of four Hampton Court Palaces! The park's perimeter is approximately 6.6 miles long. You can view or download the park map here.

Question 4

What is the park's history?

Accepted Answer

First settled during the Bronze Age, Bushy park really began to take shape at the end of the 15th century under the reign of Henry VIII when farmland began to be enclosed with walls - a process speeded up with the creation of nearby Hampton Court Palace. It became very popular for recreation during Queen Victoria's reign and also played a key role during the two world wars as a base for foreign allied troops.

More information on the park's history can be found here.

Question 5

Is car parking available?

Accepted Answer

There are 4 main car parks which are located at Coleshill Road Gate, Pheasantry Café, Diana Fountain, with additional weekend parking via Clapperstile Gate. Locations for each are shown on our park map. Vehicle gate times are shown on the park web page.

Disabled parking
Disabled parking is available at Coleshill Road Gate, Pheasantry Café, Diana Fountain, Bushy Park Playground and Woodland Gardens, with additional weekend parking via Clapperstile Gate.

Other car parks
There is a nearby car park at Hampton Court Green which is owned and run by Historic Royal Palaces for visitors to Hampton Court Palace. It has different charges to those maintained by The Royal Parks. Find out more here.

Question 6

Is there a charge for car parking?

Accepted Answer

Car parking in Bushy Park is free of charge.

The nearby car park at Hampton Court Green is is owned and run by Historic Royal Palaces for visitors to Hampton Court Palace. Details of parking charges can be found here.

Question 7

Can I drive through the park?

Accepted Answer

Following our Movement Strategy trials it was decided to reduce the number of vehicles driving through Bushy Park as a way to improve the park visitor experience and open up new spaces for everyone to enjoy.

Visitors can no longer drive directly between Teddington Gate and Hampton Court Gate. Both gates now provide access to the car parks only.

View the vehicle access map

Question 8

Can I cycle in the park?

Accepted Answer

Yes, cycling is permitted within Bushy Park, but only on larger roads where stated (e.g. Chestnut Avenue, Cobbler's Walk etc.). Smaller paths and tracks across the park are for pedestrians only, and cycling is not permitted. Please be considerate and give space to other park users and the park's wildlife. Please be mindful of your speed and other road vehicles.

You can check permitted cycleways on OpenStreetMap.

For more information view Cycling in The Royal Parks.

Question 9

Is there a charge to use the public toilets?

Accepted Answer

There is a 20p charge to use the public toilets in the parks. We have recently installed a contactless system which accepts credit/debit cards, prepaid cards and mobile wallet payments like Apple Pay and Samsung Pay. Cash is no longer accepted.

Question 10

What cafés and kiosks are in the park?

Accepted Answer

Bushy Park has one main café - the Pheasantry Café. There are also several smaller refreshment kiosks dotted throughout the park. View the Food and Drink section for full details of each outlet, along with their latest menus.

You can find their locations on the park map.

Question 11

What sports facilities are in the park?

Accepted Answer

Bushy Park is perfect for a wide range of sports activities including bowls, cricket, fishing*, football, rugby and swimming. And with a network of smaller paths and trails it also makes a great destination for walking and running surrounded by the park's wonderful nature and unique wildlife.

Discover more here.

*permit required - apply online

Question 12

Do The Royal Parks have a shop?

Accepted Answer

Yes, there is a permanent shop located by the Boat House in Hyde Park which is open all year round. We are open from 10am-6pm, 7 days a week.* In addition, during warmer months our mobile 'pop-up' shops tour the central parks with a curated selection from the range.

We also now have an online shop with free postage for orders over £50.

*Opening hours vary slightly throughout the year. Please check the shop webpage for current times.

Question 13

What do the Royal Parks shops sell?

Accepted Answer

The Royal Parks shops offer a unique ranges of gifts, homewares, prints, books and garden accessories, as well as beautiful keepsakes to take home as a memento of your visit. Take your time and browse seasonal collections and year-round favourites.

Visit the Hyde Park shop Visit the online shop

Question 14

Are The Royal Parks shop products sustainable?

Accepted Answer

Sustainability and addressing climate change are at the heart of everything we do.

We ensure that products have been ethically sourced and sustainably produced by local artisans and UK businesses where possible.

In our shop in Hyde Park, all of the fixtures are made from recycled, upcycled and reused materials. When you order online the packaging you receive your products in are made from recycled materials and can be recycled again at home (even the tape!).

We strive for transparency with our responsible approach to evaluating the sourcing and production processes of our products. We collaborate with partners who share our values, ensuring they adhere to fair labour practices and ethical standards.

You can read about our approach to sustainability online.

Question 15

Do I need to keep my dog on a lead?

Accepted Answer

Generally, dogs do not need to be kept on a lead in Bushy Park providing they are a safe distance from the park's deer.

Throughout the year
We ask that dogs be kept on lead when in close proximity to deer. Please note it is an offence for a dog to chase deer in Bushy Park, and this could result in the owner’s prosecution. Aside from this, dogs must be kept on leads around rivers and ponds.

Dogs are not permitted in the Woodland Gardens.

Please take time to read the Dogs in the Royal Parks policy document.

Skylark protection zones (March to September)
Dogs to be kept on a short lead in skylark protection zones during their breeding season of March to September. This applies specifically to grassland to the south of Oval Plantation and west of Hampton Wick Cricket Ground.
View the protection zones map

Deer birthing season (1 May to 31 July)
Dogs need to be on leads during the deer birthing season in Bushy Park. This is a mandatory rule and applies to all areas of the park.

Deer rutting season (September to November)
During the deer rutting season (September-November) we advise:

Always keep dogs on a lead near deer or walk them elsewhere during this season
We ask dog owners to keep a minimum distance of 50m from deer. If the male seems active then keep at least 100m away

Commercial dog walkers
Please note, that if you want to use the Royal Parks for commercial dog walking purposes, you must have a Commercial Dog Walking Licence issued by The Royal Parks charity.

Question 16

Can I feed the wildlife in the park?

Accepted Answer

No. Feeding birds and animals in the parks does more harm than good. You can learn more about why this is, and how you can help us in caring for their wellbeing here.

Stay safe around the deer
Please read our deer safety advice page ahead of your visit to Bushy park.

Question 17

Can I pet the deer?

Accepted Answer

No. For your own safety, we ask that you keep at least 50 metres away from the deer, and never touch, feed or attempt to photograph them at closer range. Always be vigilant in a deer park, especially during the rutting season (September-November) and birthing season (May-July).

Please read our deer safety advice page ahead of your visit.

Question 18

How can I contact the park office?

Accepted Answer

Getting in touch with park offices is quick and easy and all enquiries are handled by our dedicated Visitor & Park Support team.

Online
Simply complete the short online enquiry form and your question(s) will be passed to the most appropriate staff member. To ensure an efficient service, please check that you have provided the following information:

Park
Subject
Your name
Your email address
Your enquiry

Telephone
You can also contact the park offices by telephone using the following numbers:

Contacting the police in an emergency
For police assistance, please call 101 for non-emergencies, and 999 for emergencies. You can also report a crime online.

Question 19

Who do I contact about lost property?

Accepted Answer

To report lost property, please contact our Visitor and Park Support Team via their online contact form with the following information:

Your contact details
A description of the item
Date and time when the item was lost
Location (if known) where the item was lost

If the property has been found by staff or handed in to us we'll let you know.

Question 20

Who do I report a crime in the park to?

Accepted Answer

To report criminal activity in the park you should contact the police. For non-emergencies call 101, and for emergencies call 999. You can also report a crime online.

Question 21

Can I run personal training sessions in the park?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You can use Bushy Park as a location for personal training or group fitness sessions - providing you have a current fitness training licence issued by The Royal Parks charity.

Fitness training licences are also available for Hyde Park, The Regent's Park, The Green Park, Greenwich Park and Richmond Park. They are not available for St. James's Park, Kensington Gardens, Victoria Tower Gardens or Brompton Cemetery.

To apply for a fitness training licence please read the information here and complete the online application form.

Question 22

Do I need a permit to shoot photos in the park?

Accepted Answer

If you are filming/photographing by yourself on a mobile phone or action camera for purely personal use then no you don't need a permit to film/photograph in the park. However, for all other purposes you will need to obtain a filming or photography permit from The Royal Parks charity. Full information and online application forms can be found here.

Question 23

Can I have a picnic in the park?

Accepted Answer

Yes, we welcome informal picnics in the Royal Parks. Please read our guidance document for maximum group sizes and what is and isn't permitted. Please note that barbecues are not allowed.

Question 24

Can I hold an event in the park?

Accepted Answer

Every year, we welcome hundreds of small and medium events to the Royal Parks, including walks and runs, large picnics, concerts and community sports. Applications for such events are considered by our dedicated Parks Events team. To find out more, and submit an application click here. At least six weeks’ notice is required.

Question 25

Can I buy a Christmas tree in Bushy Park this year?

Accepted Answer

It won’t be possible to buy a Christmas tree in Bushy Park this year because we have decided to pause sales in the park for this season. This decision is part of an ongoing evaluation of our retail offerings and may be revisited in the future.

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23 January 2024

FAQs for Bushy Park

23 January 2024

Things to do in Bushy Park

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Food & Drink in Bushy Park

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Wildlife in Bushy Park

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Sport & Leisure Activities in Bushy Park

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The History of Bushy Park

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Gardens of Bushy Park

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Monuments in Bushy Park

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St. James's Park